PRINCE Charles will visit the region today to talk to farmers about the effects of last year's foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Prince of Wales will meet staff from the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, to find out how they coped during the epidemic.

The support service, which is based in a former holiday cottage, offers advice and practical support to more than 350 families in the Teesdale area, and was open 24 hours a day during the crisis, which devastated the Teesdale farming community.

Prince Charles will also meet local farmers to find out more about how they are recovering in the light of the epidemic.

He will then travel to Ripon, where he will be invested as a Freeman of the City at a ceremony in the cathedral.

As part of his role as president of the Business in the Community initiative, he will visit Ripon's new library, where he will meet business leaders to talk about market town regeneration.

He will also launch the Business in the Community publication, Market Towns - Connecting Companies with Communities, as part of an initiative in Ripon Market Square.

He will then visit Selby Abbey to see conservation work in progress, and speak to representatives of the Selby Abbey Appeal.